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PODCAST

Short Wave

New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — in just under 15 minutes. It"s science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber for science on a different wavelength. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave.

science life sciences

All Episodes

5:15

Siriusly, It's The Dog Days Of Summer!

Short Wave ·

2021/08/09

Ever wonder why we call it the Dog Days of Summer? Today on the show — Emily gives Maddie an astronomical reason why we associate the sweltering heat of summer with the dog star, Sirius. So, before the dog days are over, have a listen — perhaps as you head out to the sky in search of the dog star. You can email the show at ShortWave@NPR.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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13:33

Gravitational Waves: Unlocking The Secrets Of The...

Short Wave ·

2021/08/06

Science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce gives us the latest in gravitational waves and shares what scientists have learned (and heard) from these tiny ripples in spacetime. Email the show at shortwave@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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14:18

How To Correct Misinformation

Short Wave ·

2021/08/05

(Encore episode) The World Health Organization has called the spread of misinformation around the coronavirus an "infodemic." So what do you do when it's somebody you love spreading the misinformation? In this episode, Maddie talks with Invisibilia's Yowei Shaw about one man's very unusual approach to correcting his family. And we hear from experts about what actually works when trying to combat misinformation.For more on how to do science communication right, check out our earlier episode How To

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12:07

COVID And Aduhelm On The Agenda At Denver Alzheimer's...

Short Wave ·

2021/08/04

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference took place in Denver this year. Today on the show, NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton talks to Maddie Sofia about what he learned at the conference, the latest on the controversial new drug Aduhelm, and the potential links between COVID and Alzheimer's. You can follow more of Jon's reporting by clicking this link.Email the show at ShortWave@NPR.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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13:37

Whales' Vital Role In Our Oceans

Short Wave ·

2021/08/03

Whales are more than just beautiful creatures — they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Today, Asha de Vos, marine biologist and pioneer of long-term blue whale research within the Northern Indian Ocean, explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea in this excerpt of TED Radio Hour.Listen to the full episode, An SOS From The Ocean, here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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13:00

Caregiving During The Pandemic Takes A Toll On Mental...

Short Wave ·

2021/08/02

Caregivers in the "Sandwich Generation" have reported a steep decline in mental health, as did others who had to juggle changes in the amount of caregiving they had to provide to loved ones. Caregivers have struggled with anxiety, depression and PTSD at rates much higher than those without caregiving roles. NPR correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee talks about the study and her reporting with Emily Kwong. If you or anyone you know is struggling, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention

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9:29

Lightning Bugs, Fireflies - Call Them What You Will,...

Short Wave ·

2021/07/30

There are thousands of species of lightning bug and they live all over the world except in Antarctica. Maddie and Emily discuss lots of other amazing tidbits about the family Lampyridae and talk about what humans can do to preserve the bugs, which are facing widespread habitat disruption.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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11:16

Breaking Down The New CDC Mask Guidance

Short Wave ·

2021/07/29

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidance on wearing masks. Short Wave co-host Maddie Sofia and NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey explain what's changed and why. Plus, the latest on the Delta variant, a highly transmissible strain of the coronavirus. Want to see how widespread COVID-19 is in your local community? Check out this data tracker from NPR. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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13:12

Managing Wildfire Through Cultural Burns

Short Wave ·

2021/07/28

Fire has always been part of California's landscape. But long before the vast blazes of recent years, Native American tribes held controlled burns that cleared out underbrush, encouraged new plant growth, and helped manage wildfires. It's a tradition that disappeared with the arrival of Western settlers. NPR climate correspondent Lauren Sommer explains how tribal leaders are trying to restore the practice by partnering up with state officials who are starting to see cultural burns as a way to help

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12:26

Sweat: A Human Superpower

Short Wave ·

2021/07/27

Sweating is critical to helping humans avoid overheating, and it's different than how most animals cool down. Sarah Everts wanted to understand more about how humans came to sweat like we do, and wrote a book called The Joy of Sweat - which she talked about with Rhitu for this episode.Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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12:25

Can We Predict Earthquakes? (Hint: No)

Short Wave ·

2021/07/26

It's a listener questions episode! Chuck, Short Wave fan, asks, "What is the current state of earthquake prediction systems?" For some answers, Emily Kwong chats with Wendy Bohon, a geologist and Senior Science Communication Specialist for the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). To look at real-time seismic data from hundreds of locations around the globe, check out the IRIS Station Monitor. Have a question you want us to try answering? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.Learn more

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12:58

The Great California Groundwater Grab

Short Wave ·

2021/07/23

California is in the middle of a terrible drought. The rivers are running low, and most of its farmers are getting very little water this year from the state's reservoirs and canals. And yet, farming is going on as usual. NPR food and agriculture correspondent Dan Charles explains how farmers have been using wells and underground aquifers to water their crops. But that's all set to change. California is about to put dramatic limits on the amount of water farmers can pump from their wells, and people

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13:24

Who Runs The World? Squirrels!

Short Wave ·

2021/07/22

Squirrels are everywhere — living in our suburban neighborhoods to our city centers to our surrounding wilderness. Rhitu Chatterjee talks with researcher Charlotte Devitz about squirrels and how studying them might help us better understand the changing urban environment. You can email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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14:44

How Tall Is Mount Everest? Hint: It Changes

Short Wave ·

2021/07/21

We talk to NPR's India correspondent Lauren Frayer about the ridiculously complicated science involved in measuring Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. And why its height is ever-changing. (Encore episode) Read Lauren's reporting on Mt. Everest.Have other quirks of the planet on your mind? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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10:25

The Delta Variant And The Latest Coronavirus Surge

Short Wave ·

2021/07/20

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the last month due to the Delta variant. NPR correspondent Allison Aubrey talks with Emily Kwong about where the virus is resurging, how some public health officials are reacting and what they are recommending. Also, with a spate of outbreaks at summer camp, officials are weighing in on what parents can do before they send children to camp. WhatLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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11:13

Building A Shark Science Community For Women Of Color

Short Wave ·

2021/07/19

As a kid, Jasmin Graham was endlessly curious about the ocean. Her constant questioning eventually led her to a career in marine science studying sharks and rays. But until relatively recently, she had never met another Black woman in her field. That all changed last year when she connected with a group of Black women studying sharks through the Twitter hashtag #BlackInNature. Finding a community was so powerful that the women decided to start a group. On today's show, Jasmin talks with host Maddie

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14:02

The Joy Of Ice Cream's Texture

Short Wave ·

2021/07/16

July is National Ice Cream Month — and Sunday, July 18 is National Ice Cream Day (in the US)! Flavors range from the classics — vanilla and chocolate — to the adventurous — jalapeño and cicada. But for some people, including ice cream scientist Dr. Maya Warren, flavor is only one part of the ice cream allure. So in today's episode, Emily Kwong talks with Short Wave producer Thomas Lu about some of the processes that create the texture of ice cream, and how that texture plays into our enjoyment of

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14:14

Three Guidelines To Understanding The Delta Variant

Short Wave ·

2021/07/15

Delta is quickly becoming the dominant coronavirus variant in multiple countries. The variant has spread so fast because it is more contagious than the variants that came before it. At the same time, the U.S. is equipped with highly effective vaccines. Ed Yong, science writer for The Atlantic, talks with Maddie about the interaction between the variants and the vaccines and how that will be crucial in the months ahead.Reach the show by emailing shortwave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message

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12:29

What Science Fiction Gets Wrong About Space Travel

Short Wave ·

2021/07/14

Contrary to sci-fi depictions in shows like Iron Man and Star Wars, getting from point A to point B in space is a tough engineering problem. NPR Science Correspondent Geoff Brumfiel explains how space propulsion actually works, and why some new technologies might be needed to get humans to Mars and beyond.Follow Geoff Brumfiel and Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong on Twitter. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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7:53

The Ripple Effects Of A Huge Drop In Cancer Screenings

Short Wave ·

2021/07/13

At the height of the pandemic, routine cancer screenings declined by 90 percent. Screenings are resuming and doctors are diagnosing later-stage cancers — cancers that might have been caught earlier. NPR science correspondent Yuki Noguchi of talks about whom this affects most, and about the ripple effects that missing cancer screening may have for years to come.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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1,540 results

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